Life, 1919-09-04 · page 26 of 48
Life — September 4, 1919 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon ("The Stepfather of His Country"):** A stern man with a cane supervises a naked child fishing in a barrel—likely satirizing someone's paternalistic control or interference with Ireland/Irish affairs. The title references George Washington ("Father of His Country"), inverting the concept to suggest unwanted guardianship. **Open Letters Section:** Two satirical letters mock contemporary political figures and events: 1. **To China:** Mocks China's withdrawal from the Peace League after Japan seized Shantung Province. Life sarcastically suggests China should accept this loss as a lesson in "Christian civilization" and friendship—heavy irony criticizing the post-WWI power dynamics and Western hypocrisy. 2. **To Éamonn De Valera:** Ridicules the Irish independence leader (then fundraising in America for an Irish Republic) as selfish for wanting Irish independence, sarcastically warning the world will be "too full of republics." This reflects anti-Irish sentiment and American skepticism toward Irish nationalism. **Bottom Image ("Your Cook or Your Life"):** Unclear context, but appears to depict a threatening scenario. The page reflects 1920s American attitudes: condescension toward non-white nations, skepticism of Irish independence movements, and support for existing power structures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE- all Irishmen will feel it incumbent upon them to go hack home and run their country, instead of running so many others, as they are now engaged in doing. The rest of the world is at present suffering sadly from lack of amusements, and if all the Irishmen who make so much picturesque trouble are taken away from the scenes of their operations, what is to become of us? Tammany Hall, the I. W. W. and other important industries would be in a sad state without any Irishmen in them. Apprehensively yours, Lire The French Babies L" has received for the relief of the French war orphans, in all, $351,693.30, from which we have remitted to Paris 15,855.50 francs. We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of the following amounts. Rexewats: Mrs. FP 4 fonte, Pa.. $18; J. ¢ ton, Sin § Sei 3 Lillian ( tucket, RB. 0; J. E. Clunghley, ‘Boise, Idaho, § Memory George Bullard Lauriat’ and Ch Lauriat, 3d, $219; ‘Britannia Hotel, Lake of Bays, $733 Hollister and Malcolm’ Smith, Oakland, Cal., de orph, ; Mrs. Margaret E. Bunker and W Bunker, Ridgeheld, Conn., $73; Katherine Figart, Sings Straits Settlements, $73: In Memory of Akron A. Sargent, San anciseo, Cal.. $73; Mrs. G. Y. Lansing. Albany, N.Y., $146; Sarah G. Verity, Middletown, Ohio, $73; Mrs. George M. Vi Middletown, Ohio, $109.50; Billy’ and Jean MacDougal, cago, Ill, $150. Payments on Account: Marjorie M. Struble, Detroit, Mich ts, John Little, Honolulu, H. T., $3: “A. Friend 7 N.Y. $3.50; Mrs. M. L.’ Walker, Portland, Ore., THE STEPFATHER OF HIS COUNTRY French Club of Washington C. H., Ohio, $6, BABY NUMBER 3744 Already acknowledged . seeee Some Open Letters REG Tetgek Cremer. al Mary Lees Kennard and friends. To Our Old Friend China. AR CHINA: Surprise, not unmixed with wholesome indignation, has moved us that you have withdrawn from the Peace League just because Japan has insisted on taking away from you your province of Shantung with its paltry thirty-six millions. Also, we note with a sense of high moral pleasure your insinuation that President Wil- son has gone back on his ideals, not the least of which was justice to the weaker nations. We greatly fear that you will never appreciate the high ethical benefits of a truly Christian civilization. Besides, what's a province among friends? We greatly suspect that you have never heard of that justly celebrated game entitled “thr monte.” Disappointedly yours, To Eamonn De Valera, Esq. D R SIR: It has been recorded in the public prints that you have recently been making a tour of our most densely populated sections in order to raise money enough to help Ireland on its feet. And 1 am informed that your title is President of the Proposed Irish Republic. But is this not a rather selfish proposition on your part? Are there not republics enough already? and is it not a grave responsibility for anybody to attempt to add to their number? There is danger that the world will soon be so full of republics that there will be no living in it Particularly is this true in the case of Ireland, for while we are in a more or less comfortable ignorance about your claims, we assume that in case Ireland is put on its feet, “ YOUR COOK OR YOUR LIFE” comicbooks.comm@